Community Groups

CRS works directly with community-based, civil rights, and other organizations, to prevent and resolve tensions and conflict stemming from actual or perceived issues of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability.

Working directly with community-based, civil rights, and other organizations, as they seek to engage in collaborative processes with state and local government officials, law enforcement agencies, school systems, and other organizations, stemming from issues of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability is the focus of the United States Department of Justice Community Relations Service. CRS supports community-based groups by:

Facilitating meetings between community groups and other stakeholders so that the groups can effectively express their members' concerns and collaborate on the development of mutually beneficial solutions;

Hosting town hall meetings and facilitating dialogues with officials or representatives of other community groups to ensure that community leaders are engaged in constructive resolution and mitigation processes; and

Developing programs to improve knowledge of cultural differences, dispel negative stereotypes or misperceptions, and encourage tolerance across the wider community.

The following examples demonstrate CRS's work with Community Groups in recent conflicts. Additional examples may be found within the CRS Annual Reports, located on the CRS Resource Center webpage.

Case Highlights

New York

In the Spring of 2013, CRS was approached by local African American community leaders to provide consultation services on developing and implementing a multi-ethnic, community-based, anti-violence program, to combat alleged multi-racial, youth violence, and strained police-community relations in a New York City borough. The community leaders envisioned a program founded on the University of Chicago Cure Violence model, which approaches community violence as a learned behavior that can be prevented by the utilization of disease control methods. In response to the request, CRS facilitated several meetings with the community leaders, local clergy, civil rights organizations, and other interested stakeholders. As a result of the meetings, the parties agreed to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), that would outline the role each party would play in the program. In collaboration with leaders from a faith-based, anti-violence program; a faith-based, housing corporation; and community advocates from Cure Violence, CRS structured a MOU that addressed issues including funding, organization, daily operations, and the locations of the program centers. CRS services led to increased communication between the parties and local law enforcement, as well as the development of new collaborations to prevent and respond to future community conflicts.

Wisconsin

In May 2013, CRS was contacted by members of the Hmong 18 Clan Council of Wisconsin, regarding alleged reports from Hmong hunters and fisherman of harassment, intimidation, and threats by Caucasian individuals and hunting clubs. They were worried that the rising tension between the Hmong and Caucasian community members would develop into violence if left unchecked. The Council convened its Council of Elders in order to address the above concerns in preparation for the upcoming hunting season, and to equip Hmong community members with information necessary to diffuse and avoid tension with the predominantly-Caucasian hunting and fishing clubs. In July 2013, CRS facilitated a race dialogue with Hmong elders from the Hmong 18 Clan Council. The discussion focused on the need for training on conflict-resolution and non-directive mediation models for Clan Elders, who determine dispute outcomes and provide guidance for the Hmong community on conflicts beween Hmong Clan groups. Participants also discussed the need for expanded dialogues with Caucasian hunting and fishing clubs, in order to build trust and prevent confrontations in the Fall and Winter hunting and fishing seasons.

In addition, CRS aided the Hmong community and city officials in coordinating the annual Midwestern Hmong Tournament, a traditional gathering of Hmong Clans across the Midwest, during which clans compete in ahtletic events including football, soccer, and volleyball, as well as engage in hunting, fishing, and dancing. CRS provided consultation services to local officials in the form of best practices and contingency planning, to ensure an adequate police presence for accommodating traffic and crowds. The Agency also facilitated a separate dialogue with Hmong leadership, local law enforcement, and conservation groups, during which the parties discussed poaching, licensing requirements, and hunting and fishing safety during the events. In addition, CRS coordinated a dialogue with the United States Attorney's Office for the area, who provided opening remarks at the Tournament, and contacted a local diversity council to notify community members of the event. An estimated 4,000 participants attended.

Texas

In February 2012, CRS worked closely with leaders of the African American community and Korean merchants to reduce tensions stemming from an incident that occurred between an influential religious leader and a merchant during a store purchase. The incident received considerable coverage by local media and resulted in boycotts, protests, and heightened community and police concerns over the potential for violence. In response, CRS convened community leaders and the local clergy alliance, members of the Korean Merchants' Association, and local officials, to engage in a facilitated dispute resolution process. The groups met, were led through a problem-solving dialogue, and developed an action plan that included an agreement by the members of the association to increase customer-service standards and to develop a collaborative program to educate both the African American and Korean communities about the other's cultural norms. In addition, CRS worked with African American community leaders and the Korean Merchants' Association to establish a permanent working group that would meet regularly to address a number of long-standing community issues beyond the scope of the initial conflict.